Second-Hand Stories

Myth: n. a traditional story serving to explain some phenomenon, custom, etc.

Mythology: n. the study of myths

As the definitions suggest, myths help explain the unexplained. We all know that Greek myths were explained and at times mirrored by the Romans. We also know that the Romans were mythological magpies, that is to say whenever they encountered a new culture they had a habit of taking some of its mythology for their own. It helped that most cultures at the time were polytheistic and embraced a myriad of pantheons. Problems arose with the monotheistic traditions collided with the polytheistic, such as Judaism, because it challenged the idea of sharing pantheons. It also challenged the power of the priesthoods, but that’s not what this post is about.

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When the reverse happened--monotheistic cultures coming into contact with polytheistic cultures in later centuries--it was notably messy. Whole civilizations were converted violently, and their traditions and stories were recorded by people who were at best dismissive of their ideas and at worst hostile. So, the stories we learned about Greek, Roman, Egyptian, or Norse mythology were told by the people who previously revered them. Indigenous cultures that were conquered by European powers rarely shared or passed down their beliefs. They shared them with a priest, who by profession couldn’t give credence to other mythologies. This is the problem I’m facing writing a Taino mythology book. My information is oral tradition given by an outside entity who barely respected the fact that they were documenting an endangered culture. What’s a writer to do? Read between the lines, I suppose and hope that I’m more sensitive to the responsibility of writing a second-hand story. Maybe knowing that I’m looking at these stories through a modern lens and acknowledging it is a start.

On the other hand, I'd like to think that at least part of the desire to write these stories and find new insights into them is being divinely inspired. A girl can dream!

In search of other stories--part one

As you know, dear readers, I have a complicated relationship with fairy tales. On the one hand, they're a great source of historical values and entertainment. But on the other, the anachronisms are hard to stomach sometimes. Especially as a woman.Even with my serious case of doublethink, I seek the stories out to better understand them, and to understand where we came from. Not only do I read fairy tales and folklore, but I also love mythology. I read Greek myths as a child and thought they were the perfect mix between fantasy and history, just like a fairy tale. And their purpose was to explain the unexplained. That led me to Norse mythology, Celtic folklore, and then it hit me. What about the other stories?I know I've beat this drum before--diversity and inclusion is something I'm passionate about--but I'm not talking about that exactly. The other stories I'm talking about are related to other cultures. I think I remember learning about a trickster storyteller from an African culture and one or two stories about Hindu gods, but very little else. As a Latina and specifically a Puerto Rican, I learned nothing about Taino mythology. Why is that? Honestly, the only answer I have for that is if they're not looked for, they can't be found.Indigenous peoples all over the world have myths and legends that are strikingly similar and vastly different than the ones from northern Europe. Stories about fairies, little people, monstrous creatures, gods and goddesses. These are stories that should be available and told again and again.In the coming weeks I hope to do my part, small as it may be, to help shed light on other stories and show how similar, and how different they are from the stories we all know. I hope you'll share stories, too.